diff --git a/lib/db/upgrade.php b/lib/db/upgrade.php
index 2c402d867b3..013dbac2035 100644
--- a/lib/db/upgrade.php
+++ b/lib/db/upgrade.php
@@ -3294,7 +3294,7 @@ privatefiles,moodle|/user/files.php';
         $table->add_field('format', XMLDB_TYPE_CHAR, '255', null, XMLDB_NOTNULL, null, null);
         $table->add_field('subject', XMLDB_TYPE_CHAR, '255', null, XMLDB_NOTNULL, null, null);
         $table->add_field('message', XMLDB_TYPE_TEXT, null, null, XMLDB_NOTNULL, null, null);
-        $table->add_field('messageformat', XMLDB_TYPE_INTEGER, '10', null, XMLDB_NOTNULL, null, '1');
+        $table->add_field('messageformat', XMLDB_TYPE_INTEGER, '10', null, XMLDB_NOTNULL, null, null);
         $table->add_field('userviewas', XMLDB_TYPE_INTEGER, '10', null, XMLDB_NOTNULL, null, '0');
         $table->add_field('timescheduled', XMLDB_TYPE_INTEGER, '10', null, XMLDB_NOTNULL, null, '0');
         $table->add_field('recurrence', XMLDB_TYPE_INTEGER, '10', null, XMLDB_NOTNULL, null, '0');